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Post by Nowhere Man on Oct 3, 2016 20:53:55 GMT -5
Historical Rating: 8. The death of Juniper is the main reason this issue warrants a high score here. It was the first death of a regular character in the early Marvel Universe, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Not only that, but unlike many of the others, AFAIK he never came back. Not as a clone, not as a robot, not as a doppelganger from another dimension. I get the feeling that relatively few creators and editors working at Marvel have ever read Sgt. Fury. Compare this to all the shenanigans of the surviving SHIELD agents.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2016 8:36:48 GMT -5
Very likely true, & also very likely a good thing from my admittedly jaundiced perspective.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Oct 4, 2016 11:17:36 GMT -5
Very likely true, & also very likely a good thing from my admittedly jaundiced perspective. I admit that a small part of me would be amused if a new big bad armor-clad villain--most likely tied to some lame event--was unmasked at the end as Jonathan Juniper. The bewildered confusion among the younger fans would be worth it...almost.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 4, 2016 17:15:41 GMT -5
Very likely true, & also very likely a good thing from my admittedly jaundiced perspective. I admit that a small part of me would be amused if a new big bad armor-clad villain--most likely tied to some lame event--was unmasked at the end as Jonathan Juniper. The bewildered confusion among the younger fans would be worth it...almost. 1960's English singer Donovan was a big Marvel Comics fan and was distraught over the death. He composed this song about Jonathan Juniper's daughter Jennifer Donovan went on to write Sunshine Superman with it's mention of Supes and Green Lantern. Also in 1969 he had the big hit 'Atlantis" , an ode to The Sub-Mariner
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 9,411
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Post by Confessor on Oct 5, 2016 17:18:50 GMT -5
1960's English singer Donovan was a big Marvel Comics fan and was distraught over the death. He composed this song about Jonathan Juniper's daughter Jennifer Donovan went on to write Sunshine Superman with it's mention of Supes and Green Lantern. Also in 1969 he had the big hit 'Atlantis" , an ode to The Sub-Mariner You are joking, right? I mean, about "Jennifer Juniper" and "Atlantis". Tell me you don't actually believe that?
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 5, 2016 18:18:17 GMT -5
1960's English singer Donovan was a big Marvel Comics fan and was distraught over the death. He composed this song about Jonathan Juniper's daughter Jennifer Donovan went on to write Sunshine Superman with it's mention of Supes and Green Lantern. Also in 1969 he had the big hit 'Atlantis" , an ode to The Sub-Mariner You are joking, right? I mean, about "Jennifer Juniper" and "Atlantis". Tell me you don't actually believe that? Would you take a man that has pudding in his mouth seriously? But then, wasn't The Hurdy Gurdy Man a Batman villain in the Jack Schiff era?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2016 10:08:45 GMT -5
"Season of the Witch" was clearly a hat-tip to Wanda Maximoff.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Nov 7, 2016 12:22:05 GMT -5
Sorry for another long delay. I'll be returning to this epic journey of mine tonight.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Nov 8, 2016 4:29:36 GMT -5
Strange Tales #114 Story Title: “The Human Torch Meets…Captain America” Cover Date: November, 1963 CreditsScript: Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue); Jack Kirby (co-plot, uncredited) Pencils: Jack Kirby Inks: Dick Ayers Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Sam Rosen Cover Art: Jack Kirby (pencils); Dick Ayers (inks) Synopsis: Sue Storm is running Johnny through his training when the two are interrupted by Johnny’s friends who inform him that Captain America, the legend of WWII, is going to be the guest of honor at a local antique car show. Johnny attends and is witness to two crooks stealing a priceless antique car. He gives chase as the Human Torch when Captain America appears, apparently attempting to stop the crooks himself. When the Torch lends a hand in capturing the crooks, Cap isn’t appreciative of the help and the two get into a tussle. The cops arrive and arrest the crooks and Captain America is now the toast of the town, garnering all the publics adoration. We soon learn that Cap was in cahoots with the crooks and he proceeds to bust the two out of jail. Having the crooks cause a diversion by leading the cops on a high-speed chase, Cap breaks into the Glenville bank vault. The Torch easily captures the crooks, who reveal that the whole plot was Captain America’s. The Torch finds Cap attempting to escape in a strange helicopter/rocket vehicle but manages to overheat it, forcing the capsule to eject. This leads to the final confrontation, and after escaping an asbestos lined truck by causing a pressurized explosion, the Torch manages to defeat Cap. Johnny unmasks him and discovers that it was Carl Zante, his old foe known as the Acrobat, posing at the legendary hero. The tale ends with Johnny reminiscing over his old Captain America comics. Character Appearances: Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Acrobat [Carl Zante; disguised as Captain America]; Doris Evans; Invisible Girl [Sue Storm] (cameo) Comments: This was a fun story overall, but the interesting thing to me is how Lee and Kirby used it as an excuse to gauge fan interest in the return of Captain America. You’d think with the early success of the Marvel characters that they wouldn’t feel the need to do this, but seeing as how we’re still in the early part of the Silver Age, it’s possible that there was trepidation in reintroducing a WWII era character created to serve as propaganda disguised as entertainment for the readers of that period. Certainly, Cap developed into far more in the Silver Age, but that’s basically what the character was in the Golden Age. I noticed in this issue that Kirby’s art is starting to get more dynamic and is approaching the classic style that most think of when they think of Kirby’s legendary 60’s work. It’s my understanding that Cap was one of Kirby’s favorite characters to draw, so I’m sure that played part in the quality of the art. Even the downtime scenes with Doris had more dynamic layouts than usual for such scenes. Character Development: Doris Evans remains insufferable. She continues with her bitchy rants about Johnny’s powers and openly insults him by fawning over Captain America. Without question the most unlikable Marvel supporting character so far. Personal Rating: 7. A solid story with a nice twist at the end. I think they could have done without the splash page tip-off that the story had said twist, though. I love classic comics, but the handholding could be gratuitous at times. Historical Rating: 9. This one was tough to gauge. On one hand, it’s the first appearance of Cap, in a visual sense, in the Marvel Age, but it not being the real Cap makes it less important that it would have been otherwise. Still, this being his first visual appearance, and it being a rather clever way to reintroduce him to a then modern audience, I think I’m justified in giving it such a high score.
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Post by Cei-U! on Nov 8, 2016 8:55:27 GMT -5
This was the story Jim Shooter used to teach me about Marvel-style storytelling. Still a favorite after all these years.
Cei-U! I summon the invaluable lesson!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 9:10:16 GMT -5
Strange Tales #114 is one of my favorite early days stories of Marvel Comics and I just loved the dynamics of the artwork inside this issue and remains a favorite of mine for years.
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Post by Nowhere Man on Nov 8, 2016 10:29:43 GMT -5
Strange Tales #114 (Dr. Strange Master of Black Magic)Story Title: “The Return of the Omnipotent Baron Mordo!” CreditsScript: Stan Lee; Steve Ditko (co-plot) Pencils: Steve Ditko Inks: George Roussos (uncredited) Colors: Stan Goldberg Letters: Sam Rosen Synopsis: Doctor Strange is contacted by an old acquaintance, Sir Clive Bentley, who requests to see him at his London estate. However, Bentley is Baron Mordo in disguise who is setting a trap for the good doctor. Strange arrives and while exploring the castle, he’s paralyzed by the vapors of a strange mystical candle. Mordo makes and entrance and explains that when the flame goes out, Strange will die. The Ancient One mentally contacts Strange intending to aid him, but Strange refuses, believing that he must defeat Mordo on his own if he’s to do battle with the forces of evil. Strange then proceeds to make mental contact with the nearest person, who just so happens to be Victoria Bentley, the daughter of Sir Clive Bentley. Victoria snuffs out the candle and Strange learns that Sir Bentley has been dead for ten years. Mordo returns and attempts to take control of Strange by making the first strike against his mind. However, what appeared to be Strange was a mental projection; Strange had only just arrived. His actual self now present, he reunites with his “ethereal self” and enters a mystical battle with Mordo in another dimension. Strange manages to win the battle, but Mordo escapes. Learning from Mordo’s comments that she has latent magical talent, Victoria asks to be Strange’s disciple, but Strange refuses for the time being, saying that she would be in danger from Mordo the more she learned. Character Appearances: Baron Mordo [Karl Amadeus Mordo, also as Sir Clive Bentley]; Doctor Strange [Stephen Strange]; Ancient One [Yao]; Victoria Bentley (introduction, origin) Comments: This issue is basically an intentional retread of the previous installment that featured Mordo as the villain. This is because it’s the first official Doctor Strange story as a permanent feature in Strange Tales. Having waited a few months for reader responses to the first two Strange stories, the enthusiastic response convinced Stan and Co. that they had a winner on their hands. It’s a very basic story, and once again is limited by being only five pages, but it does a good job of setting up all the key players for future installments. The weakest part of the story is that there is no indication that Strange is in his ethereal form until it's revealed at the end, which is a tad silly and jarring, given the fact that he's shown to have taken a taxi, opened doors, etc, in said form. And how do even mystical vapors paralyze someone who's not actually there? Best not to think about it too hard. It's magic! I think my favorite part of the story is this image by Steve Ditko of Strange looking very much like Vincent Price: Character Development: We haven’t yet delved much into Strange the man, but that’s going to have to wait given current short nature of the strip. Strange isn’t the Sorcerer Supreme at this stage, so he’s probably even more serious and to the point than he will be once he attains that title--he’s more vulnerable, and not nearly as powerful, as he will be. Personal Rating: 6. Once again, it’s tough to properly evaluate such a brief story, but it’s clear even at this early stage that Doctor Strange is a special character. I do think that this is weakest of the three stories so far. Ditko’s atmospheric art is what elevates these stories more than anything else. Historical Rating: 8. The primary importance of this story is that it’s the official beginning of Doctor Strange as an ongoing series.
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Post by kongat44 on Nov 15, 2016 14:56:43 GMT -5
Funny, I was just looking at this issue of Doctor Strange last night, and noticed that it looked like it was inked by someone other than Ditko, possible I thought by George Bell, not remembering that was not his name. It was Ditko's inking details that make us love his work, when others ink him, all the detail, the shadows, all the extra stuff he adds is just not there, they are just his outlines. Just not the same, look at his Hulk stories or the one Giant man he did for Tales to Astonish, and then look at the first Doctor Strange, or Amazing Spider-Man #2 to see the difference.
I am also stating to read the Marvel titles 1-100, not sure if I will make it though. I am only including Super hero books, and Nick Fury Agent of Shield, when ever that shows up. I started with FF #1 last night, and never noticed before that they are in Central City, not New York, unless that is a common term for the Big Apple.
Thanks for a great thread.
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Post by Farrar on Nov 15, 2016 15:29:57 GMT -5
This was the story Jim Shooter used to teach me about Marvel-style storytelling. Still a favorite after all these years. Cei-U! I summon the invaluable lesson! In case anyone is interested, here's a link to Shooter's summaries of his storytelling seminars: storytelling.jimshooter.com/strange-tales/
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Post by MDG on Nov 16, 2016 9:31:17 GMT -5
Funny, I was just looking at this issue of Doctor Strange last night, and noticed that it looked like it was inked by someone other than Ditko,... I remember, when reading the Dr. Strange Essentials years ago, thinking that the story wasn't inked by Ditko. Since an inker wasn't credited, I liked to think it might've been his studio-mate Eric Stanton.
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